Why was Oscar Piastri penalised at Silverstone when George Russell wasn’t for his actions behind the security automobile in Canada? Is the distinction that one was within the moist and subsequently visibility restricted? – Nick

It is a query Piastri was clearly asking himself after the British Grand Prix, even when he didn’t say so in fairly so many phrases.

Consistency of stewards’ opinions is one thing groups and drivers are always asking for, and on the face of it this does seem like a contradiction.

The 2 incidents have been very comparable. In Canada, Russell braked and Max Verstappen handed him. At Silverstone, Piastri did the identical with the identical consequence.

In Canada, the stewards took no motion, and rejected a post-race protest from Purple Bull. At Silverstone, Piastri misplaced the win as a consequence of a 10-second penalty.

There have been some variations, nevertheless. The brake stress Piastri utilized, whereas completely regular for a braking occasion behind a security automobile, was greater than double Russell’s. And the situations have been totally different – moist slightly than dry – with the lowered visibility that got here from that.

Verstappen made it clear he didn’t view the incidents that in a different way, nevertheless.

After Sunday’s race, he was requested if he thought Piastri deserved a penalty.

“The factor is that it occurred to me now a couple of occasions, this type of situation,” Verstappen stated. “I simply discover it unusual that all of the sudden now Oscar is the primary one to obtain 10 seconds.”

As a result of there was no distinction to what Russell did in Canada?

“Nicely, to the stewards, sure,” Verstappen replied.

Piastri stated he felt he had executed every little thing throughout the guidelines, and implied he had been unfortunate to be braking on the similar time the security automobile lights went out to point a restart – the time after which drivers will not be allowed “erratic braking nor another manoeuvre which is more likely to endanger different drivers”.

Purple Bull workforce principal Christian Horner stated: “I wasn’t shocked to see him get a penalty. That was what you’d count on.”

McLaren workforce principal Andrea Stella stated he felt the penalty was “very harsh” and he would focus on it with the stewards.

He stated McLaren had made the purpose through the race it must be checked out afterwards.

“I feel we should always have checked intimately the opinion of the drivers concerned,” he stated. “We should always have checked why the security automobile was referred to as in so late after which put collectively all the weather such that the choice might be as truthful as doable.”